TOP 2019 FICTION

Here is my end-of-year compilation of the stories which really impressed me in 2019, everything from short stories to stand-alone novels, book series and novellas:

TOP 2019 SHORT STORIES

INSULAR by Jamie Stewart presents the concept of being so wrapped up in our own heads that we miss something very wrong happening right in front of us, and made such an impact on me, I also recommend TRICK OR TREAT by the same author. You will definitely see Stewart in the Lair a third time in January 2020.

A GOOD PAIR OF EYES by Matthew Buza is a crime drama mixed with supernatural horror, and the story scared the crap out of me with the vivid descriptions. If you like movies such as The Grudge or Unfriended, you're going to love this short horror story.

THE CAT ON ALPINE ROAD by Keith Knapp is full of suspense, and the cat, Buckshot, is magnificent. If you love the cat, General, from the movie Cat's Eye, you'll enjoy Knapp's story.

PHILOPHOBIA by Sin Ribbon is a short story about a man attempting to resurrect his wife. I'm so intrigued with the town itself, Ribbons could probably create a few more stories with the townsfolk, particularly with Mrs. Becca's church and Lisa Common.

EASY.GONE. by Daniel J Ings is terrifying. I can't imagine what Mr. Yan was thinking, selling such a dangerous item as the pocket-sized Necronomicon to a kid with a huge chip on his shoulder.

I JUST WANT TO DIE by Nicholas Wolff mixes horror, sci-fi and drama to create one of the best apocalyptic outbreak scenarios I've ever read! Wolff has taken the plague subgenre to a new level.

I'M ALL ALONE AND IT'S GETTING DARK by Brandon Lee Hayes is a story told from a child's POV. He wakes up from a nightmare to pee and finds the babysitter missing. (This story made me think of the illustration of a toy bear using a sword to defend the sleeping child from a monster.) Roosevelt is the kind of bear I'd want my kid to have.

THE HIKE by Sarah Gribble is far better than I expected. I thought it would be a group of people getting attacked by a werewolf, but it's so much worse, and there's far more to the story.

PARK CLOSES AT DUSK by D.W. Nathan is the best short story I've read by the author. For some reason, I thought I would be reading a vampire story, but the creatures Nathan has created are much more terrifying. If you like Ghoul by Brian Keene, you're going to love the nightlife in this park.

THE TUNNELERS by Geoff Gander is one of the best stories I've read in 2019, even though this story was published in 2011. Halfway through reading, I googled legends of the First Nations to figure out which parts are historical and how much of the story is a creation of the author. What I found convinced me Gander is Lovecraft reincarnated.

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TOP 2019 NOVELS

ONE OF US by Craig DiLouie is a very emotional drama set in 1984. The horror element is the way the characters treat each other: deplorable. I've often commented in my reviews about the definition of a monster...DiLouie wrote an entire novel about the debate over what defines a monster.

TOOTH & CLAW by Dave Jeffery (author of A Quiet Apocalypse) is one of the best werewolf stories I've ever read. The author has blended folklore, crime drama and horror with an excellent balance of action and suspense to create one hell of a thriller!

EMILY ETERNAL by M.G. Wheaton is one of the best science fiction novels I've read in a long time, and one of the most creative stories I've read this year. This thriller is told from the POV of the artificial consciousness, a five-year science experiment attempting to save humanity. Basically, the author has combined a crime drama in an E.L.E. setting with a sci-fi coming-of-age battle for survival.

THE FOREST by Julia Blake centers on the villagers of Wyckenwode and the Forest, filled with secrets which have affected the lives of every generation. Blake has skillfully woven folklore, suspense, drama and romance together to create a detailed coming-of-age tapestry. I haven't been this moved by a fantasy novel since the last time I read Ursula K LeGuin.

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TOP 2019 SERIES

Grinning Skull Press has a GRAVE MARKER series, eighteen so far, and I recommend all of them. One in particular, THE MEMOIR OF DARIUS FISCHER by Ezekiel Kincaid mixes theology, mysticism, folklore and more with the precision of a master.

I AM THE NIGHT by Ruth Miranda is a companion story for her Blood trilogy, and narrated by Marcus. This installment offers fans of the series his perspective on events leading up to his confrontation with Caius, as well as the beginning of his relationship with Marianne.

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES series by Kody Boye follows the POV of a sixteen year old girl, Kelendra, chosen to keep up genetic standards for the Glittering City. The society Boye has crafted contains elements similar to the Hunger Games and The Handmaid's Tale, while retaining the author's skill in using personal drama to draw readers into his disturbing creation.

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TOP 2019 NOVELLAS

IT NEVER DIED by Joshua Scribner is the author's best story, of the 100+ stories I have read by Scribner. This isn't just a supernatural story, or a karma/revenge plot, this is the ultimate reincarnation tale!

A QUIET APOCALYPSE by Dave Jeffery (author of Tooth & Claw) is a very different kind of post-apocalyptic story. There are no zombies, nothing supernatural of any kind...only people enslaving other people. After an illness renders most people deaf, the hearing are hunted down to become servants for the newly hearing impaired. Those born deaf are given a much more terrifying treatment, as they are blamed for the virus which causes the loss of hearing.

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Special thanks to all of you who share my review and interview links and help get the word out about all the great indie authors and small presses! There are tons of great stories to read in horror, science fiction, fantasy and suspense, but many readers are afraid to try the unknown.

Have a safe New Year's Eve, and be sure to come back in 2020 for even more fantastic recommendations!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Death Beneath Us

THE TUNNELERS by Geoff Gander is one of the best stories I've read in 2019, even though this story was published in 2011. The journal format, which includes interviews and research notes, builds the suspense and horror perfectly, while only revealing bits and pieces.

Halfway through reading, I googled legends of the First Nations to figure out which parts are historical and how much of the story is a creation of the author. What I found convinced me Gander is Lovecraft reincarnated.

If you only have time to read one more story before the new decade, make it this one.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Deep Inside

THE THINNING by Daniel J Ings is another great 2019 release from the author. The Cthulhu theme is the perfect hook to this suspense-thriller, and the ending is sure to catch readers off guard. The two alternating POVs is an excellent touch.

I also recommend EASY.GONE. by Ings, for another sinister short.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Savage Beasties

PARK CLOSES AT DUSK by D.W. Nathan is the best short story I've read by the author. For some reason, I thought I would be reading a vampire story, but the creatures Nathan has created are much more terrifying.

This story is so action-packed, I wish the author had written a full-length novel instead. If you like Ghoul by Brian Keene, you're going to love the nightlife in this park.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Run For Your Life [INTERVIEW]

LAB ZERO by Brandon Lee Hayes is a short story about a lab intern who wants to know what is in the basement of his building. As soon as he realizes what has been going on behind closed doors, the doors are torn apart, and the intern is facing a life and death situation.

Hayes does a great job of combining terror and suspense by including the internal dialogue the intern is having. Rather than stay in self-preservation mode, he remains determined to figure out what escaped from the laboratory.

Hide and seek...and try not to die.

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Even though I've only read a couple of stories by this author, Brandon Lee Hayes, his horror creations have already made quite an impression on me. I decided to invite him into the Lair to discuss bears, hunting and Halloween:

Let’s get right to it…where did you get the idea for I’M ALL ALONE AND IT’S GETTING DARK?

The title popped into my head one day and I felt like I had to figure out what this story was about. Usually it’s the complete opposite for me. I have ideas that I write out, struggling to find a good title.

I opened up my journal with all of my story ideas and thought to myself “when is it scary to be alone?”.

The first thing that came to me was that it’s terrifying to be alone as a child. I also feel that an event from my childhood leaked into this story without me even realizing until this question was asked.

When I was very young, armed robbers broke into my house, pistol whipped my father and tied him up. They threw the phone down the basement stairs and rummaged through my house.

The whole intruder in the house and phone in the basement thing sounds a bit like I’m All Alone and It’s Getting Dark.

I have a blog section called “Why I Wrote” on my website that explains in greater detail where the ideas behind my stories come from if you’re interested in an even more in depth answer.

Is there any chance of seeing Roosevelt in another story?

It’s definitely possible. As of right now I think it would be as more of an easter egg rather than a main character in the story. I will say that my stories take place in the same universe, so anything is possible.

I have another story that isn’t completely written yet but the idea came before “I’m All Alone and It’s Getting Dark”. These stories originally were completely separate from one another but I decided to make them connect.

While this story isn’t written yet and doesn’t even have a title, I have a lot planned for it. Right now it’s just labeled “Rain”.

If you look at the photo of the newspaper article at the end of “I’m All Alone and It’s Getting Dark” you will notice there’s another article being covered by the main article. This may be a hint for how these two stories are going to connect. It’s a bit like an easter egg for something that hasn’t even been written yet!

So far, your stories include being isolated and hunted. Is it just a coincidence, or do you find this theme more terrifying than other horror scenarios?

I definitely find this theme incredibly scary. I absolutely love stories where monsters are on the prowl. I do want to make my stories a bit more diverse and I certainly have ideas for different themes.

That said, there are definitely more stories with the theme of being hunted coming soon.

How did you get into horror in the first place?

I watched a lot of horror movies as a kid. Alien, The Thing, The Shining etc. I don’t really like watching movies anymore but I have a soft spot for a good monster movie.

When it comes to reading or writing horror that was much more recent. A few years ago someone I worked with introduced me to The Dark Tower by Stephen King. I fell in love with the story and started reading all of his other novels, which introduced me to the world of horror fiction.

I loved it all so much I decided I wanted to write it too.

Halloween is around the corner…are you planning anything for the holiday? Maybe another story?

I do have some more horror stories on the way. I’ll have 2 more out by Halloween, hopefully 3.

I haven’t really thought of any Halloween themed stories though. I would like to make one of my stories Halloween themed and have it released on or around the holiday. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t make sense for any of my stories that I’m writing and editing right now and would feel forced if I just threw in the fact that it’s Halloween.

I do have one story that I thought of more recently that can take place on Halloween but I’m not sure if I’m going to get around to writing it in time. I have a lot of other stories that I’m really itching to write at the moment, as well as stories that are already written and I’m working on editing and publishing.

Do you think you might write a novella or full-length novel in the next year or so?

It is one of my goals, definitely. Over the next year I’d like to publish the 12 or 13 short story ideas I have, make a short story collection and write at least one of three novel ideas I have. Ideally I’d get two novels out but that’s probably a stretch.

I also have a story that is currently written and being edited called “Journal of a Missing Man”. It was originally a short story idea that turned into more of a novella now that it’s roughly 13,000 words. I’m still editing it and I’m not sure exactly when this one will be out.

Where can readers find out more about your new releases?

My website, www.brandonleehayes.com, has all of my stories and blog posts about my writing. I also have Instagram, twitter and litsy which can all be found through my website.

Thanks for visiting us in the Lair!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Apocalyptic Slavery

A QUIET APOCALYPSE by Dave Jeffery is a very different kind of post-apocalyptic story. There are no zombies, nothing supernatural of any kind...only people enslaving other people. After an illness renders most people deaf, the hearing are hunted down to become servants for the newly hearing impaired. Those born deaf are given a much more terrifying treatment, as they are blamed for the virus which causes the loss of hearing.

Chris begins a journey to find a place called The Refuge, a safe haven for those with hearing. With an injury meant to keep him from running away, he attempts to escape the hunters known as Samaritans. Unfortunately, Chris realizes too late, the blessing of his immunity has become a curse.

This is only the second book I've read by Jeffery, but I love his storytelling. This is one I can recommend to all readers, not just horror fans.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Desert Hunter

THE HIKE by Sarah Gribble is far better than I expected. I thought it would be a group of people getting attacked by a werewolf, but it's so much worse, and there's far more to the story.

The author does a fantastic job of developing her characters in just a few pages. Andy is an alpha male who thinks he's an expert, Jay is a people-pleaser, and Katy is a groupie. I almost felt bad for Dee, but it's hard to feel sympathy for someone willingly going into a desert with a wicked sunburn from a previous outing.

So many things go wrong during their hike, by the time the group realizes they are being followed...let's just say, there are worse things than dying, as Gribble creates a pain and suffering which is sure to get under your skin.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Fantasy, Folklore & Fate

THE FOREST by Julia Blake centers on the villagers of Wyckenwode and the Forest, filled with secrets which have affected the lives of every generation. Lords go missing, and when the White Hind is seen, three village deaths follow. Everything is tied together by love and jealousy, murder and suicide, and, of course, an ancient magic.

This generation, cousins Sally and Jack, and their friend Reuben, form the tragic triangle, but they refuse to let a curse decide their fates. Armed with clues from stories passed down by their elders, the three try to survive the evil which has fallen upon them. Time is running out as they struggle to make sense of the words given to the village from the Green Man through a young girl driven mad by her experience in the Forest.

Blake has skillfully woven folklore, suspense, drama and romance together to create a detailed coming-of-age tapestry. I haven't been this moved by a fantasy novel since the last time I read Ursula K LeGuin. I never knew what to expect, especially with Sally, and the ending left me breathless. Blake deftly ties up the various storylines with a rather intricate finale, spanning yet another generation beyond the main characters, while remaining firmly rooted to the Forest.

I discovered this novel through Instagram of all places, knowing nothing about Julia Blake or her writing style, but I will definitely be reading more of her stories in the coming months.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Teddy Bear vs. Monster

I'M ALL ALONE AND IT'S GETTING DARK by Brandon Lee Hayes is a story told from a child's POV. He wakes up from a nightmare to pee and finds the babysitter missing.

I freakin' love the teddy bear talking to the kid! (This story made me think of the illustration of a toy bear using a sword to defend the sleeping child from a monster.) Even though I thought the monster might be the child's perception of an intruder, the description is truly frightening. Roosevelt is the kind of bear I'd want my kid to have.

The news story at the end is a great touch, making me question everything about the child's experience. I recommend this story to all readers.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Must-Read Sci-Fi Thriller

EMILY ETERNAL by M.G. Wheaton is one of the best science fiction novels I've read in a long time, and one of the most creative stories I've read this year. This thriller is told from the POV of the artificial consciousness, which is fascinating all on its own, but the idea of a five-year science experiment attempting to save humanity in some form is just wild. Basically, the author has combined a crime drama in an E.L.E. setting with a sci-fi coming-of-age battle for survival. I never expected this level of drama in any way.

I read the book in one sitting -- could not put it down. Not only did I enjoy learning about Emily and her personal growth, but the thought of all life on Earth ceasing to exist in a matter of weeks kept me hooked. Humankind possibly being wiped out without a trace of existence already made the situation extremely intense, but when terrorists attack the laboratory just as Emily discovers a secret hidden in the coding she is recording and filing, I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.

As if all that wasn't enough, Wheaton throws in yet another shocker towards the end. I began to think the author would need to write a sequel because I couldn't imagine how everything could be resolved before the last page. I knew better than to expect a tidy ending, but I couldn't have predicted the turn of events, even if I had Emily's capacity to solve problems.

On a side note, I appreciate the author's way of describing the technology within the novel. Sometimes I avoid science fiction because some authors throw in so much detail, I feel like I need a PhD to sort it all out. Wheaton avoids overly complex explanations, while keeping everything feasible. This is definitely a novel I can recommend to a wide range of readers.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Terrifying and Tragic Transformation

For as long as Darius Fischer can remember, his grandfather had an air of mystery about him, and he harbored many secrets, secrets he kept hidden from his own family. Now that the old man has passed away, Darius is free to explore those secrets and dispel the mystery surrounding the man. But what he hinds only deepens the mystery.

THE MEMOIR OF DARIUS FISCHER by Ezekiel Kincaid is Grave Marker Book 18 (Grinning Skull Press). I want to tell other readers why I love this story, but I can't -- not without revealing spoilers. I can say the grandfather is Native American, and Darius, being an atheist, should have taken his grandfather's stories more seriously. At the very least, he should've discussed his intentions with his grandmother before digging around in the loft full of secrets.

I can also tell you, Kincaid has mixed theology, mysticism, folklore and more with the precision of a master. The author delivers his demonic concoction in the form of journal entries and clinical notes, written by Darius and his psychiatrist. The personal experiences are ghastly, the observations are insightful, and the ending is both beautiful and tragic.

This is definitely making my Top 2019 list.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Life After Death

I AM THE NIGHT by Ruth Miranda is a companion story for her Blood trilogy. You don't need to read the entire series to enjoy this novel, but you'll get more out of it, if you read the first Blood book in advance. I Am The Night is narrated by Marcus, offering fans of the series his perspective on events leading up to his confrontation with Caius, as well as the beginning of his relationship with Marianne.

I already liked the character Marcus in the trilogy, but after reading his personal experiences as an abuse victim and a vampire, he is now my favorite character from the series. I wouldn't mind another companion book centered on Marcus, taking place after the third novel in the trilogy.

Last but not least, Miranda once again touches on current social issues with her preternaturals, examining how people identify themselves in various situations and the way they choose to interact with others. I found the vampire's epiphany about love to be quite a revelation, after everything he has had to overcome by himself. Additionally, the supporting characters impart significant discoveries within the journey Marcus undertakes.

Fans of the series definitely need to add this one to their Blood collection!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sunday With Scribner: Tet Has Arrived

IT NEVER DIED by Joshua Scribner is the author's best story, of the 50+ stories I have read by Scribner. I read hundreds of stories every year, and it's been years since I've read anything so original. This isn't just a supernatural story, or a karma/revenge plot, this is the ultimate reincarnation tale!

Most of the action takes place at night, which jacked up the steady flow of suspense. This novella had me so on edge, I jumped when I thought I saw something come down my hallway. There are many levels within, with no clear "bad guy." I felt sorry for everyone involved.

If you only read one story from Scribner this year, make it this one.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Hunt Or Die

TOOTH & CLAW by Dave Jeffery (Grinning Skull Press) is one of the best werewolf stories I've ever read. The author has blended folklore, crime drama and horror with an excellent balance of action and suspense to create one hell of a thriller! If someone mixed the movies Silver Bullet with Predator, the result still wouldn't come close to the excruciating gauntlet Jeffrey puts his characters through.

While I'm satisfied with the ending, as well as shocked by the turn of events, I am left with a few questions I feel the author could answer in a sequel. Or, better yet, a companion novella retelling events from the lycan POV. I'm definitely adding Tooth & Claw to my Top 2019 list!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Friday Feature: Plagued

I JUST WANT TO DIE by Nicholas Wolff caught me completely off guard. I thought I would be reading a supernatural story about death, trying to pass off some lesson about life and death. I couldn't have been more wrong. Wolff has mixed horror, sci-fi and drama to create one of the best apocalyptic outbreak scenarios I've ever read!

Not once did I have any idea where the author would take readers, not even when the narrator mentioned the emergency announcements on the radio. I felt like I had been tossed into the abyss, alongside Mark. Wolff has taken the plague subgenre to a new level.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Thursday Thriller: Blood Soaked

EASY.GONE. by Daniel J Ings is terrifying. I can't imagine what Mr. Yan was thinking, selling such a dangerous item as the pocket-sized Necronomicon to a kid with a huge chip on his shoulder. (Mr. Yan needs his own story.) I don't blame the kid for desiring revenge, but the aftermath on the pages of the book are extremely creepy.

I would love a sequel. I don't think the ending is a true cliff-hanger, but the last page has a Dark Tower/gunslinger theme going on. This story is making my Top 2019 list.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Island Dystopia Should Have Its Own Mini-Series

PHILOPHOBIA by Sin Ribbon is a short story about a man attempting to resurrect his wife. I had no idea how the fear of falling in love tied into the story, especially since I expected something along the lines of a modern day Dr. Frankenstein. When the true horror is finally revealed, I felt completely unprepared for Fetter's secret.

Ribbon does a great job setting up the terrifying twist with a narrator who lays out Fetter's past like a small town, backwoods legend. I'm so intrigued with the town itself, Ribbons could probably create a few more stories with the townsfolk, particularly with Mrs. Becca's church and Lisa Common.

As always,
AstraDaemon

A Cat Named Buckshot

A newly married couple suffers a near-fatal car accident on a dark and twisty road. Injured and lost, the newlyweds find they must rely on a cat to get them to safety.

THE CAT ON ALPINE ROAD by Keith Knapp begins with a gruesome car accident, which triggered an awful memory of a roll over (I was lucky enough to walk away from). Funny how something so straightforward and realistic could be more traumatizing than any other horror I've read lately.

This short is full of suspense, and the cat, Buckshot, is magnificent. If you love the cat, General, from the movie Cat's Eye, you'll enjoy Knapp's story. I LOVE the ending.

As always,
AstraDaemon

These Monsters Can Fight

Abandoned by his family, Enoch Bryant now lives in a rundown orphanage with other teenagers just like him. He loves his friends, even if the teachers are terrified of them. They're members of the rising plague generation. Each bearing their own extreme genetic mutation.

The people in the nearby town hate Enoch, but he doesn't know why. He's never harmed anyone. Works hard and doesn't make trouble. He believes one day he'll be a respected man.

But hatred dies hard. The tension between Enoch's world and those of the "normal" townspeople is ready to burst. And when a body is found, it may be the spark that ignites a horrifying revolution.

ONE OF US by Craig DiLouie is a very emotional drama set in 1984. The horror element is the way the characters treat each other: deplorable. I've often commented in my reviews about the definition of a monster...DiLouie wrote an entire novel about the debate over what defines a monster. As someone with a sociology degree, I can appreciate the academic and theological conflicts between the various groups. As a mother, I found myself often crying throughout the novel. 

I cannot fathom shunning children based on a genetic mutation, even though people do much worse over much less in real life. (I'm crying as I type this.) Brain's POV, particularly his birth experience, just about broke me. Parents refusing their own babies, putting them into Homes, where they are mistreated and sometimes tortured, is heart-wrenching. While reading, I felt so awful for the plague children who only wanted to be loved, but the concept is not a work of fiction, and that is the soul-crushing aspect.


I felt something for all the characters. Whether it's the plague kids who just want friends and the freedom to make happy memories, the human kids who are trying to wrap their minds around the decisions of their parents' generation, or the people who continue to make everything worse on a daily basis, every single character has a depth to them.


The sheriff is a great choice to use as the center of the story. Between his professional and personal experiences with the plague kids, he ties all the levels of the conflict together, helping both characters and readers make connections they might otherwise overlook.


I'm sure this is a stand-alone novel, but I would not object to a sequel with the plague kids as adults. Not only do I recommend this book to fiction fans, but I would love to see One of Us become a part of recommended reading for libraries and schools as well.


As always,
AstraDaemon

Afraid of the Sins

"I see the darkness in you. I can see it behind those bloodshot spiderwebs. It's trying to crawl out. Are you ready to confess?"

"Confess to what?! You know nothing about me."

"And yet the eyes never lie. It's there. Let me show you..."

A GOOD PAIR OF EYES by Matthew Buza is a crime drama mixed with supernatural horror, and the story scared the crap out of me with the vivid descriptions. Someone unexpectedly walked into the room while I was reading this, and I jumped about a foot off the couch. Buza has a serious talent for terror.

I've never heard of this author before, but his creation is definitely making my Top 2019 list. If you like movies such as The Grudge or Unfriended, you're going to love this short horror story.

As always,
AstraDaemon